Support means for releasably suspending container

ABSTRACT

A hanger or support apparatus is disclosed for suspending a container by engagement with the interior wall of the opening portion of the container. Means are provided for quickly engaging and disengaging the hanger. The hanger is particularly adapted for suspending heated glass bottles for conveyance through an electrostatic coating apparatus.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,777,875 Sobran Dec. 11, 1973 [5 SUPPORT MEANS FOR RELEASABLY 2,575,473 11/1951 Selseth 294/100 x CONTAINER 3,418,020 12/1968 Brubaker 294/93 3,314,714 4/1967 Brubaker 294 93 Michael J. Sobran, Old Greenwich, Conn.

Inventor:

Assignee: Glass Containers Corporation,

Fullerton, Calif. 7

Filed: Jan. 25, 1971 Appl. No.: 109,170

U.S. Cl. 198/131, 198/179 Int. Cl. 865g 15/00 Field of Search 294/86.32, 93, 100, 294/90, 86 A, 33; 214/1 BA; 198/179, DIG. 8, 22 B, 131; 215/85, 52

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1890 Trumbore .I 294 33 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk AttorneyParmelee, Utzler & Welsh [57] ABSTRACT A hanger or support apparatus is disclosed for suspending a container by engagement with the interior wall of the opening portion of the container. Means are provided for quickly engaging and disengaging the hanger. The hanger is particularly adapted for suspending heated glass bottles for conveyance through an electrostatic coating apparatus.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEU DEC 1 1 I973 his Attorneys SUPPORT MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SUSPENDING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In handling of containers, particularly open mouth glass containers, it is common practice to support-the bottles from outside during processing steps-Any number of processing steps are performed on supported containers, such as heat treatment, coating processes, etc. These processes subject the container support device to unusual condition, and it is desirable to avoid breakdown of the container support device which must engage and disengage the containers reliably.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hanger apparatus is providedfor releasably suspending rigid containers which have an open mouth. The hanger apparatus comprises a support rod, and a resilient insert, fixed to one end of the support rod.The insert is forceably insertable into the open mouth of the container, and release means are provided which are slidably mounted on the support rod above the resilient insert for engaging the container on a downward stroke, whereby the container is moved free of the insert.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of an embodiment of the present invention before insertion into a container;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation showing insertion of the hanger apparatus into a container;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the suspending container in an electostatic coating chamber whereby a uniform coating. can be applied to the exterior of the container;

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation showing thesuspending container in the process of being released from the hanger apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a view showing complete release of the container;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevation partly in section'of the resilient insert portion and release means of the hanger apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention can be best understood by reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, wherein the hanger apparatus 10 comprises a linearly extending support rod 11 which is adapted at one end 12 to be connected to a support structure 13 or to an indexing system for transporting the suspended container. Several coaxial extensions are provided from support rod 11. The other end 14 of support rod 11 is preferably threaded and has screwed thereon a release means stop extension 15, which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 6. One end 16=of the extension is internally threaded and screwed onto the threaded end 14 temperature resistant material to thereby electrically isolate the work piece end of the hanger apparatus 10. A resilient insert 22 as best seen in FIG. 6 is then affixed to end 21 of rod 19. The resilient insert 22 comprises a generally frusto-conic end portion 23 which aids in lining up the insert 22 with the container during insertion. A centralizing sleeve 24 extends from the base 23a of the frusto-conic insert end portion 23 coaxial with the support rod longitudinal axis, back toward the support rod. A centralized aperture 25 extends axially through the frusto-conic insertion end portion 23 and has a screw head retaining shelf 26 provided therein so that the remaining screw 27 which is directed through the aperture 25, the sleeve 24, and screwed into end 21 of rod 19, affixes the resilient insert 22 to the support rod. The resilient insert 22 further comprises a resilient, hollow, ellipsoidal, spheroid shaped portion 28 extending back about the extension of the support rod from the base 23a of the frusto-conic insert end portion 23; A predetermined number of symmetrically spaced slots 29 are provided in the barrellike portion 28, extending from the end 30 of the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion 28 to beyond the greatest diameter portion 31 of the ellipsoidal spheriod shaped portion 28, thereby defining a like number of segments 28a for the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion 28. By way of example, when the greatest diameter of the barrel-like portion is about three-fourths inch, four symmetrically spaced slots each about one-eighth inch wide have been found suitable.

The reason the slots 29 extend from the end 30 is to permit greater resilience of the insert 22. By extending the slots 29 beyond the greatest diameter portion 31 of the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion 28, a pressure relief path is provided from the interior of the supported container. This is important if the processing involves heating the container.

A back-up spring 32, which can be termed a tulipspring is preferably disposed inside the hollow ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion 28. The back-up spring 32 comprises a base 33 with a centralizing aperture 34 therethrough via which the spring 32 is mounted on the retaining screw 27 abutting the end 21 of rod 19. A plurality of petal-like extending arms 35 are directed from the base 33 back about the extensions of the support rod 11. The term tulip spring is had from the petal-like extending arms 35. The extending arms 35 are symmetrically disposed about and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the support rod 1 1. The back-up spring 32 preferably has as many extending arms 35 as there are segments 28a for the ellipsoidal shaped portion 28 of the resilient insert 22. The extending arms 35 are disposed behind the segments 28a to give support to the resilient insert 22, and to keep it centered during insertion into a container. The back-up spring 32 is not essential for operation of the hanger apparatus, but is desirable for increasing the operational lifetime of the flexible insert.

A coiled conductive switch spring 36 is electrically connected to the collar 17 extending from the support rod 11, and is wound about extension rod 19 down toward the resilient insert 22. The switch spring 36 extends far enough to contact the finish or top rim of the container when the resilient insert is in place in the container mouth. The switch spring is only needed when it is desirable to provide a conductive path from the container, such as during an electrostatic coating process as will be described later in detail.

A cylindrical sleeve release means 37, which includes an interiorly disposed centralizing flange 38, is slidably mounted on suport rod 11. The release means 37 is slidable in an axial direction along the support rod axis. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the centralizing flange 38 at end 37a of the release means 37 contacts collar 17 to restrain the downward movement of release means 37. The diameter and length of release means 37 is such that it contacts the finish or top rim of the supported container and upon a downward stroke forces the container off the resilient insert 22. A wear-resistant washer member 39 is preferably mounted on support rod 11 above the release means 37.

OPERATION OF THE HANGER STRUCTURE The operation of the hanger structure in releasably suspending open-mouth containers is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5. A conventional container 40 which has an open-mouth portion 41 is disposed and advanced on a conveyor pallet 42 to a position where the open mouth portion 41 is approximately aligned with the resilient insert 22. The container shown is a typical glass bottle, but it is apparent that a variety of other containers of different design can be utilized with the apparatus of the present invention. The resilient insert dimensions can be varied to allow use with a variety of open-mouthed or necked containers.

While insertion of resilient insert 22 into the openmouth portion 41 of container 40 can be accomplished by simple relative movement between the resilient insert 22 and the container 40, it has been found desirable to effect insertionby moving the container 40 upward. This allows the frusto-conic end portion 23 of the resilient insert 22 to be centralized, and minimizes the possibility of tipping over the container 40 due to slight initial misalignment. A sufficient upward force is applied to container 40 so that the resilient insert 22 is forced into the open-mouth portion 41 as is seen in FIG. 3. The inside wall of the container 40 actually rests on the greatest diameter portion 31 of the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion 28 of the resilient insert 22. The release means 37 rides up on the support rod, but remains in abutting contact with the finish 43, or top rim of container 40.

The resilient insert 22, extension rod 19, and the cylindrical sleeve release means 37 are all preferably formed of a non-electrically conductive, hightemperature', chemically resistant material, such as Teflon, a trademarked product of DuPont Chemical Co. The supported container 40 as seen in FIG. 2 is then ready for processing, without being in contact with any reactive surface. The container 40 can thus be supported solely from the inside the container if desired, or an auxiliary support can be provided. When the container is thus supported solely from inside, the entire exterior surface is then exposed for processing.

ELECTROSTATIC COATING OPERATION OF SUPPORTED CONTAINER The suspended container can then be transported to various processing stations. One particular processing for which the hanger apparatus described is particularly advantageous in supporting the container, is in electrostatically applying a coating to the container. The coating material is for example thoroughly described in copending application Ser. No. 810,000, now abandoned filed Mar. 24, 1969, and owned by the assignee of the present invention. The container can be rotated during the coating process, or a plurality of spraying apertures can be provided in the wall of the coating chamber to facilitate depositing a uniform coating over the container.

In FIG. 3, the supported container 40 is disposed within a coating chamber 45. An electrostatic coating system is well known in the glass coating field, and includes a spray generator, from which the coating composition eminates as a fine spray. The spray is passed near a high voltage probe to produce an electrostatic charge on the spray particles. The spray is then directed into the coating chamber 45, and directed onto the container 40. The container can be rotated during the coating process, or a plurality of spraying apertures can be provided in the wall of the coating chamber to facilitate depositing a uniform coating over the container.

The helically wound spring 36 is preferably included with the hanger apparatus 10 when electrostatically applying a coating. The spring 36 is conductive and acts as a conductive path between the container and typically ground potential, to maintain a potential difference between the electrically charged spray particles and the container. This insures forming a uniform, adherent coating over the container.

The non-conductive, high-temperature resistant, noreactive elements of the hanger apparatus 10, which are the resilient insert 22,. the extension rod 19, and particularly the cylindrical sleeve release means 37, which are in contact with or close to the container during the coating application are unaffected by the coating composition. Any coating composition which is applied to these surfaces is easily removed. These elements shield the other portions of the hanger apparatus from the sprayed coating thereby minimizing maintenance of the system.

RELEASE OF THE CONTAINER After the supported container is processed or transported, it is moved to a release position at which the resilient insert is removed from the container. This operation is shown in'FIG. 4 and 5. A camming means 44, aligned with the direction of travel contacts the wearresistant washer member 39, to apply a downward force on the cylindrical sleeve release means 37. This force is transmitted to the container to remove the resilient insert 22 from the container. The container is then set down upon a support surface, which can be a conveyor.

I claim:

1. A hanger apparatus for releasably suspending rigid containers having open mouths comprising:

a. a support rod,

b. a resilient insert fixed at one end of the support rod and being forceably insertable into the open mouth of the container, said resilient insert comprising a frusto-conic insert end portion which has a centralizing aperture extending axially therethrough, and a centralizing sleeve extending therefrom back toward the support rod about the support rod longitudinal axis, with the centralizing aperture continued through the sleeve, and a resilient ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion extending from the base of the frusto-conic end portion about the support rod longitudinal axis, and

c. release means slidably mounted on the support rod above the resilient insert for engaging the container on a downward stroke, whereby the container is moved free of the insert.

2. The apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion has a predetermined number of symetric slots therein extending from the support rod end to beyond the greatest diameter section thus defining a plurality of resilient arms for the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion.

3. The apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein the greatest diameter section of the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion of the insert is slightly larger than the container open mouth dimension, said resilient insert being forceably insertable into the container open mouth whereby it retains and supports said container.

4. The apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein a back-up spring is provided spaced between the support rod and the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion of said resilient insert, said back-up spring comprising a base portion with a centralizing aperture therethrough, a plurality of extending arms from the base extending back about the support rod longitudinal axis and symmetrically spaced therefrom, with the back-up spring extending arms disposed proximate the resilient arms of the resilient insert.

5. A conveyor apparatus for releasably suspending and transporting rigid containers having open mouths comprising:

a. a generally vertically disposed rod supported by the conveyor;

b. a compressible resilient insert tapered downwardly from a dimension larger than the container opening to a dimension less than the container opening fixed at the downwardly directed end of the support rod, said resilient insert being forceably insertable into the open mouth of the container upon relative movement between the axially aligned resilient insert and the container;

c. release means comprising a generally cylindrical sleeve having an internal bore larger in diameter than the compressible resilient insert but smaller in diameter than the container concentrically mounted on the support rod above the resilient insert by means disposed near the upper end of the cylindrical sleeve, said cylindrical sleeve being axially slideable along the support rod downward over the resilient insert and freely movable upward under the urging of the container as the resilient insert enters the mouth of the container; and

d. means for selectively applying a downward force to said cylindrical sleeve to move the same downward over the resilient insert while in engagement with the container to strip the container from said insert.

6. The apparatus as specified in claim 5, wherein the resilient insert, and the generally cylindrical sleeve are preferably formed of a high-temperature resistant, electrically insulating, non-reactive material.

7. The apparatus as specified in claim 5, wherein conductive means for contacting the suspended container are provided for maintainingthe container at a predetermined potential.

8. The apparatus as specified in claim 7, wherein said conductive means comprises a coiled metallic spring disposed about the longitudinal axis of the support rod,

one end of the coiled spring is electrically connected to the support rod, and the other end is disposed to contact the container when the resilient insert is inserted into the open mouth of the container. 

1. A hanger apparatus for releasably suspending rigid containers having open mouths comprising: a. a support rod, b. a resilient insert fixed at one end of the support rod and being forceably insertable into the open mouth of the container, said resilient insert comprising a frusto-conic insert end portion which has a centralizing aperture extending axially therethrough, and a centralizing sleeve extending therefrom back toward the support rod about the support rod longitudinal axis, with the centralizing aperture continued through the sleeve, and a resilient ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion extending from the base of the frusto-conic end portion about the support rod longitudinal axis, and c. release means slidably mounted on the support rod above the resilient insert for engaging the container on a downward stroke, whereby the container is moved free of the insert.
 2. The apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion has a predetermined number of symetric slots therein extending from the support rod end to beyond the greatest diameter section thus defining a plurality of resilient arms for the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion.
 3. The apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein the greatest diameter section of the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion of the insert is slightly larger than the container open mouth dimension, said resilient insert being forceably insertable into the container open mouth whereby it retains and supports said container.
 4. The apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein a back-up spring is provided spaced between the support rod and the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion of said resilient insert, said back-up spring comprising a base portion with a centralizing aperture therethrough, a plurality of extending arms from the base extending back about the support rod longitudinal axis and symmetrically spaced therefrom, with the back-up spring extending arms disposed proximate the resilient arms of the resilient insert.
 5. A conveyor apparatus for releasably suspending and transporting rigid containers having open mouths comprising: a. a generally vertically disposed rod supported by the conveyor; b. a compressible resilient insert tapered downwardly from a dimension larger than the container opening to a dimension less than the container opening fixed at the downwardly directed end of the support rod, said resilient insert being forceably insertable into the open mouth of the container upon relative movement between the axially aligned resilient insert and the container; c. release means comprising a generally cylindrical sleeve having an inTernal bore larger in diameter than the compressible resilient insert but smaller in diameter than the container concentrically mounted on the support rod above the resilient insert by means disposed near the upper end of the cylindrical sleeve, said cylindrical sleeve being axially slideable along the support rod downward over the resilient insert and freely movable upward under the urging of the container as the resilient insert enters the mouth of the container; and d. means for selectively applying a downward force to said cylindrical sleeve to move the same downward over the resilient insert while in engagement with the container to strip the container from said insert.
 6. The apparatus as specified in claim 5, wherein the resilient insert, and the generally cylindrical sleeve are preferably formed of a high-temperature resistant, electrically insulating, non-reactive material.
 7. The apparatus as specified in claim 5, wherein conductive means for contacting the suspended container are provided for maintaining the container at a predetermined potential.
 8. The apparatus as specified in claim 7, wherein said conductive means comprises a coiled metallic spring disposed about the longitudinal axis of the support rod, one end of the coiled spring is electrically connected to the support rod, and the other end is disposed to contact the container when the resilient insert is inserted into the open mouth of the container. 